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Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Deadline For Cancer Study Coming Up

Historic Cancer Research

Effort Two Weeks Away

Enrollment Still Underway For Jackson-Metro Residents

Jackson, Mississippi –March 12, 2012 –More than 326 Jackson, Miss. area residents have registered for a special opportunity to participate in an upcoming historic study that has the potential to change the face of cancer for future generations. And now, with more than two weeks from the event and one-third of the way to goal, others are urged to sign up today to take part in the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Prevention Study-3 (CPS-3) so that cancer’s greatest mysteries can be unlocked.

Men and women between the ages of 30 and 65 who have never been diagnosed with cancer are needed to participate in CPS-3. CPS-3 will enroll a diverse population of up to half a million people across the United States and Puerto Rico. The opportunity for local residents to enroll in CPS-3 is being made possible in partnership with University of Mississippi Medical Center (UMMC) during March 27-30. Participants can enroll by going to www.cps3jackson.org.

CPS-3 will help researchers better understand the lifestyle, environmental, and genetic factors that cause or prevent cancer.

“For Jackson-Metro residents who are passionate about finding a cure for cancer, this is a fantastic opportunity to get involved and make cancer history,” said Beth Dickson, Jackson CPS-3 coordinator for the American Cancer Society. “My appointment is Tuesday, March 27th at the Jackson Medical Mall. I am so excited to be part of this historic life-changing event here in Jackson.”

Enrollment will take place March 27-30 at UMMC locations. Participants can register in the study by going to www.cps3jackson.org. Individuals will be asked to read and sign an informed consent form; complete a comprehensive survey packet that asks for information on lifestyle, behavioral, and other factors related to your health; have their waist circumference measured; and give a small blood sample. Upon completion of this process, the Society will send periodic follow-up surveys to update their information and annual newsletters with study updates and results. The in-person enrollment process takes approximately an hour to complete. Periodic follow-up surveys of various lengths are expected to be sent every few years to individual.

“Many individuals diagnosed with cancer struggle to answer the question, ‘What caused my cancer?’ In many cases, we don’t know the answer,” said Alpa V. Patel, Ph.D., principal investigator of CPS-3. “CPS-3 will help us better understand what factors cause cancer, and once we know that, we can be better equipped to prevent cancer.” Dr. Patel added, “Our previous cancer prevention studies have been instrumental in helping us identify some of the major factors that can affect cancer risk. CPS-3 holds the best hope of identifying new and emerging cancer risks, and we can only do this if members of the community are willing to become involved.”

Researchers will use the data from CPS-3 to build on evidence from a series of American Cancer Society studies that began in the 1950s that collectively have involved millions of volunteer participants. The Hammond-Horn Study and previous Cancer Prevention Studies (CPS-I, and CPS-II) have played a major role in understanding cancer prevention and risk, and have contributed significantly to the scientific basis and development of public health guidelines and recommendations. Those studies confirmed the link between cigarette smoking and lung cancer, demonstrated the link between larger waist size and increased death rates from cancer and other causes, and showed the considerable impact of air pollution on heart and lung conditions.

The current study, CPS-II, began in 1982 and is still on-going. But changes in lifestyle and in the understanding of cancer in the more than two decades since its launch make it important to begin a new study.

The voluntary, long-term commitment by participants is what will produce benefits for decades to come. For more information or to learn how to become involved with CPS-3, visit cancer.org/cps3 and www.cps3jackson.org, email cps3@cancer.org, or call toll-free 1-888-604-5888.

The Rez News is a private, hyperlocal blog, publishing news about Missisippi towns around the Ross Barnett Reservoir including Flowood, Ridgeland, Jackson, Madison and news from Hinds, Rankin, and Madison Counties in central Mississippi. Please notify us of upcoming events. We will be happy to publish information about them. Our email address can be found in the About Us section.